What is Bombogenesis? (Download PDF)

Bombogenesis is a popular term that describes a mid-latitude cyclone that rapidly intensifies. It means rapidly deepening extra tropical cyclonic low-pressure area. Other names for Bombogenesis: Explosive cyclogenesis.

Image of Bombogenesis

Image of Bombogenesis

Weather bomb

Meteorological bomb

Explosive development

Bomb cyclone

Key Characteristic of Bombogenesis

Bombogenesis refers to a rapidly intensifying area of low pressure.

The central pressure of a low-pressure system must drop at least 24 millibars within 24 hours.

What will Happen when a Place Undergoes Bombogenesis?

The place will experience:

Dramatic increase in winds

Increase in precipitation

Intense snow fall

Lightning

Blizzard conditions

Since the system in bombing out, the place will experience the above conditions.

Active Areas of Bombogenesis

Northwest Pacific

North Atlantic

Southwest Pacific

South Atlantic.

Process of Bombogenesis Occur?

Under a large temperature gradient, usually between a cold continental air mass and warm sea-surface temperatures or the product of a cold polar air mass and much warmer air from the south

When there is a temperature contrast (like the above two given conditions), a powerful, intensifying jet-stream disturbance triggers air to rise and kicking off the bombogenesis process.

An example of bombogenesis over land was the “Octobomb” that affected portions of the Plains and Midwest United States on Oct. 25 - 27, 2010. All-time record low barometric pressure readings were set by this system in states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.